Not the peerless one-timer of an Alex Ovechkin. Not the quintessential wrister of an Evgeni Malkin or Sidney Crosby. Not the sublime backhander of a Mats Sundin. Certainly not the rocket of a Zdeno Chara.

But give the Leaf sniper just a sliver of open space to exploit, a split-second heartbeat to react, the low puck-cycle maneuvering that opens up a shooting angle, and Phil will thrill.

No one in the league has better hand-eye co-ordination.

That flair extensively benefitted linemates in the condensed 2013 season, as Kessel’s game matured, became more play-making nuanced, transforming him into an increasingly multi-dimensional threat.

Yet it’s oft overlooked that, since the start of the 2010 season, only a handful of players in the NHL have accumulated better numbers than Kessel. Over the past three seasons, he is eighth in points with 198 and tied for fourth in goals with 89.

Of course, it had been a long time since Kessel’s hockey savant gifts were showcased in the playoffs, extending back beyond the critically dissected trade that made him Maple Leaf property. Prior to Saturday night’s Game 2 winner in Boston, he’d last celebrated a post-season goal — a brace of them, actually — in Game 5 of the 2009 Eastern Conference semifinals. He was a Bruin, then.

Little wonder that Kessel was clearly over the moon, raising his arms aloft, pumping the fist, a look of ferocious glee on his face. It had taken four years and endless derision from his baiters in the Bs aviary, but the prodigal winger had finally scored an even-strength marker against Boston and one of immense consequence. Every Leaf was uplifted at that moment. They have so wanted this for him.

Nothing that came before — or didn’t come before, to be more accurate — across the span of 23 previous encounters with his former club mattered anymore. In one distinguished episode a scant 53 seconds into the third period, seizing on an astute pass from Nazem Kadri after Ryan Hamilton had blocked a Bruin shot, the streaking Kessel, jet propulsion on blades, burst through Boston’s foot-tangled defenders on a clean breakaway and tucked the puck past Tuukka Rask.

He’d come un-burdened.

And that, perhaps, is the prototypical Kessel move: The one-man ambush of a goalie generated off speed and puck instinct.

Not another peep of “Thank you, Kesssss-elllll’’ taunting from the silenced crowd, their mute-button pushed.

Courtesy of coach Randy Carlyle’s maniacal match-up juggling, no daddy long-arms Chara on the ice to prevent it from happening either, Kessel liberated from his nemesis. Instead, the Boston captain’s erstwhile D-mate Dennis Seidenberg — their platoon split up on this evening to contend with the IED (improved elbow device) suspension of Andrew Ference — had to wear that goal.

It was Seidenberg who’d pinched for the big shot at the other end of the ice, momentum carrying him deeper than he’d wanted to go in the offensive zone. Kessel read the consequences alertly.

“He’s a very opportunistic player,’’ said Seidenberg. “He saw that puck get blocked and he took off.’’

With forthright appreciation, Seidenberg added: “We have to be more careful when he’s out there. We have to watch where he is because he’s a very sneaky player and he uses those chances to his advantage.’’

Those who still wish to belabor the Kessel trade orchestrated by departed GM Brian Burke might point out that Tyler Seguin, acquired with one of the first-round draft picks Toronto surrendered in the deal, has been a luscious get for Boston. He led the Bruins with eight shots Saturday, double Kessel’s output.

But one of Kessel’s made a joyful noise in Leaf Nation.

Typically, the 25-year-old had minimalist comment to provide when swallowed up by the mob of media in the dressing room afterwards, though unusually eager in submitting to the thrust-and-parry of a scrum, first Leaf to emerge for a Q&A session.

“Let’s go,’’ he urged, and not just because the team had a homeward-bound plane to catch.

One monumental goal strike doesn’t erase the dubious past against Boston. But on a night Toronto needed Kessel to assert himself, he did exactly that. And now the odometer is reset to zero because history doesn’t count for a can of beans in the playoffs. Each game is a self-contained melodrama.

Kessel’s grin of elation, however, was still the talk of the Toronto locker room on Sunday afternoon.

Joffrey Lupul, who propelled the Leaf win with two goals, was a bit of a wry tease. “It’s wiped off, oh yeah, it’s wiped off.’’

But seriously folks: “I’m sure it gives him a big confidence boost. He hasn’t had the best results against Boston in the past so you hope this gives him confidence heading into the next game.’’

Self-confidence is an intangible that can’t be quantified. Right now, the Leafs have it in spades.

“I don’t think it matters who you score against in the playoffs,’’ said Tyler Bozak, among the most energetic Leafs in Game 2, all jump and frenzy. “When you score, you’ve got that smile on your face.

“It was nice to get that split there but we have two games at home now. Let’s see what happens here. I’m sure Phil is looking at it the same way.’’

He just doesn’t have to look backwards, wincingly, anymore.

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